DECOR HOME GARDEN
The Edible Gardener
As our Summer crops continue to fade out and the days
become shorter, the time is ripe to start planning for the cool
season in the garden.
But first we need to consolidate. Once the tomatoes, pumpkins and other main crops have
given all they can, they can be carefully removed from the soil, torn up and incorporated
into the compost pile. The free beds can then be layered with old compost and mulched
ready for autumn plantings or a green manure crop.
We can also begin sowing seeds in punnets for your cool season crop now. Broccoli, beetroot, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, kale, mustards, silverbeet and all the salad greens can be
readied. Then in the next few weeks we can direct sow our broad beans, peas, radishes and
turnips. Early onions and garlic bulbs will also go in during April and May.
If you are new to growing your food at home or are thinking about getting started, this is
a good time to start preparing your yard to grow more fruit and vegetables. If you have a
back or front yard that receives more than 4 hours direct sunlight during winter you will be
able to grow a significant proportion of your fresh food at home throughout the year. It just
requires a bit of planning to work out the most suitable areas for your vegetable beds, fruit
trees, berries, and … don’t forget the chooks!
The most common method of backyard vegetable growing these days is using raised beds,
constructed using rock/stone, corrugated iron or timber. Some thought should go into the
material you use for your beds, as there are many options available. With most building materials there is a recycled alternative to consider that will do the same job as a new product,
and there are some manufactured products that you might choose to stay away from all
together (such as imported pre-fabricated beds). As far as health concerns go though, it is
important to know if any of the materials you use have been chemically treated in any way,
as some timbers are